Cardboard recycling in Shropshire drops by 60 per cent
Cardboard recycling rates have dropped by almost 60 per cent since kerbside collections were axed in Shropshire, council figures reveal.
Last year 1,676 tonnes of cardboard was dropped off at recycling centres and cardboard banks. But according to figures from Shropshire Council and its waste contractor Veolia, 4,000 tonnes was collected from kerbsides each year before the service was axed by the council in 2011.
Kerbside cardboard collections were axed in October 2011 due to changes to national composting regulations.
The decision meant more than 100,000 householders across Shropshire now have to drop off their cardboard at one of the county's five household recycling centres.
As an added measure Shropshire Council set up 21 new cardboard recycling banks across the county to aid recycling.
According to figures provided by Shropshire Council this week, the amount of cardboard taken to recycling centres increased by more than 400 tonnes between 2011 and 2012.
A spokesman said 1,232 tonnes was dropped off in 2012, while only 804 tonnes was received in 2011.
In addition, 444 tonnes of cardboard was deposited at the county's new 21 recycling banks in 2012.
But previous council figures published in 2011, showed kerbside cardboard collections picked up approximately 4,000 tonnes of cardboard every year.
Council chiefs had been mulling over ways to bring back kerbside collections – but it was revealed last week that a variety of alternative methods had been ruled out as either too expensive or unworkable.
Opening hours at Shropshire's five recycling centres will be cut from March in a bid to save around £50,000 a year.
Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for waste management, said: "Continuing to increase Shropshire's recycling rate is our key aim."
